Cody Grimm

The Texans have locked up a couple more draft picks, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, who tweets that third-round defensive tackle Louis Nix and sixth-round defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan have agreed to terms with the club.

Nix’s case is an example of how much it can cost a player early in his career financially if he slips in the draft — heading into the second day, there were rumblings that Houston might grab the Notre Dame product with the first pick in the second round. Instead, the Texans nabbed him midway through the third round. The difference? Nix gets a signing bonus of about $575K rather than $2.358MM, per Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap.

Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two South divisions:

The NFLPA has advised agents to keep their clients apprised about “potential consequences” of signing with the Saints, given the proposal currently making its way through Louisiana State Legislature, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. The proposed legislation would reduce the compensation pay for Saints players injured during OTAs or workouts.

According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitterlinks), a total of about 20 undrafted free agents and non-rookies have been invited to try out at the Titans‘ minicamp this week, including linebackers D’Aundre Reed and Greg Lloyd Jr., defensive tackle Lanier Coleman, and defensive end Cordian Hagans.

The Panthers have formally released a list of 35 players who are participating in their minicamp on a tryout basis. Former Buccaneers safety Cody Grimm and ex-Bills punter Shawn Powell are among the invitees who have previous NFL experience.

During the press conference introducing new Bears defenders Lamarr Houston and Ryan Mundy, general manager Phil Emery addressed a number of topics pertaining to his team’s offseason plans (many of which were tweeted out by the Chicago Tribune’s Rich Campbell). Emery talked about the defensive end position, saying the team was “going to be patient and see how it all works out.” The general manager also touched on the team’s former defensive end, Julius Peppers, who was cut by the Bears yesterday. Emery said thatPeppers was not designated as a post-June 1st cut, which means he’ll count for $8.4MM in dead money this season but would be off the books the following year.

More from Campbell, Brad Briggs of the Chicago Tribune and Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times…

For their number-two running back, Emery seeks a player who can specifically pass protect.

In regards to cornerback, the general manager makes it sound like the team will address the position through the draft. “The draft has a lot more depth than what’s available in the free agent class,” Emery said.

The team will also look towards the draft for a quarterback, but Campbell adds that they may also sign someone for the position. Former Bears’ quarterback Josh McCownsigned with the Buccaneers earlier today.